I read this in 2 nights! It would have been one but meds knocked me out. The story is about a young girl thinking she's in love with a guy that her family says is all wrong for her. In a roundabout way she gets caught up with the Montiago family and boy is her life caught up in a whirlwind! She finds out people are not who she thinks and some are less than what she thought. I'm not going to say much more because I don't want to give anything away.
I really enjoyed this book. It's a love story with a mobster family twist and it moves fast enough to keep you glued to the pages. I enjoy the way Judy Serrano tells a story.

There was only one thing I DID NOT like and that was having to wait for part 2!!! I'm anxiously waiting to find out what happens the next Easter Sunday!

Friday, May 20, 2011

I was so excited that I had to share what my latest reader had to say about Easter's Lilly. Thank you Melissa!

I absolutely loved the book. From the moment I started reading I could not stop. I was very into the book from start to finish. I would recommend this to anyone. Now I am just waiting for the next book to come out so I can continue reading the story. Very anxiously waiting...

Easter's Lilly is on tour! The first stop was a review by Jodie Baker of Uniquely Moi Books. She gave Easter's Lilly 5 out of 5 stars. Check it out at http://uniquelymoibooks.blogspot.com/2011/05/revieweasters-lilly-by-judy-serrano.html.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

When you write a novel and you live in a small town, people around you tend to feel very comfortable approaching you to tell you what they thought of your story. I find it both gratifying and intimidating when people come up to me and tell me how they would like the next book of the series to end. My favorite question that I have gotten so far is how much of an influence was my husband really in the story line? The major player in the book is the head of the Mexican Mafia and a former maintenance manager for an apartment community. It just so happens that my husband used to manage maintenance for apartments and is Mexican. I laughed a little, inside, thinking how seriously I should take this question.

I write about what I know or should I say, that’s how it all begins. I look back at glimpses at my past life and take bits and pieces of where I been and what I’ve done and spin a web of fiction unrecognizable to those who know me. Or at least I try.

So, truth be told, when I first met my husband he was driving a very fancy beamer, much like the one Max drives in Easter’s Lilly. He was also (and is still very) handsome and sought after by women. It was rumored that he might have other sources of income to support his lifestyle. So when people ask me if I took Diego’s story from my husband’s life, I simply smile and say, “Maybe…”

I do not believe that there are bad kids, just bad choices. Most of the children who are taken out of their classes and put into an alternative situation are some of the best kids I have ever met. How is that possible?

Maybe I can identify with them a little since I have always felt that I was "misunderstood" as a young person. The fact that I had dyslexia made teachers think I was either intentionally disregarding their instruction or that I was as dumb as a post. Sometimes I was so bored in class that I would fall asleep or get in trouble for not paying attention.

My experience as a sub has taught me that many of these students have some kind of learning challenge and become frustrated. Some of them are so intelligent that they simply get bored easily and become a disturbance in class. Some of them have family situations that are unmanageable so they turn to some other way to get attention from someone; anyone. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to spend some time in their presence. Although I may teach them a little reading and writing from time to time, they teach me life lessons that are unforgettable.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Where is the balance? As writers, unless we're Stephen King or Nora Roberts, we usually have a "day job" or in my case, "another job," which helps pay the bills. Between marketing, editing and trying to find alone time to actually create something worth reading, we can not forget the most important aspect of our lives; our families. It was yesterday that I realized I hadn't spoken to my son about anything important in two days. I had to put it all aside and just sit and chat. There is nothing I would rather do than spend time with my family but the other "stuff" has to get done too. I'm sure it becomes tiring for my children to see me over the top of my laptop, tapping away feverishly at the keys, unaware that they are even in the room. So, I have a solution. My husband and I have a date night every week. Since I started my new job, Friday nights are not always available so we've decided to pick a night, each week, after I get my schedule. Time to do the same for my children, as far as making sure I give them my time. When they are home, it's all about them. I will do whatever it is I need to do regarding my work, while they are in school, or in bed for the evening. Time to kick my feet up and play a little Scrabble Slam or bake some brownies or whatever else the day has in store. I would love to hear input from other parents in similar situations. It's hard enough to work one job and raise a family. But to add another commitment... well that is something else all together.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

When I was young I was diagnosed with Dyslexia. But before anyone really knew what was wrong I was put in all below average classes and classified as "challenged." I'm putting that nicely. Then one day my teacher did some tests with me and discovered that I had a learning challenge to overcome and not an intelligence issue. My father read to me every single night giving me more and more practice every day at reading to him. Now that I am an author, I know a lot of people think, "How did you do that?" I honestly believe that if we are handed challenges, we need to find ways to overcome them. I am grateful to that teacher, grateful to my father and glad that I did not give up. I have been writing songs, poetry and novels since I was very young. Now I have one novel out, one coming out in June and hopefully a third in January. I just wanted to say that although people may tell you that your child has dyslexia, it is not hopeless. It is just another challenge to take on. Tom Cruise, Whoopi Goldberg, Albert Einstein, Alexander Graham Bell, Pablo Picasso and Thomas Edison, (to name a few) all had (or have) dyslexia. I am proud to be in their company.